Shares of Express Scripts Holding (NASDAQ:ESRX) have earned a consensus recommendation of “Hold” from the twenty-four research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $79.46.

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. BidaskClub cut shares of Express Scripts from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. SunTrust Banks set a $82.00 target price on shares of Express Scripts and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. Jefferies Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Express Scripts in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. Royal Bank of Canada set a $68.00 target price on shares of Express Scripts and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, December 15th. Finally, Zacks Investment Research lowered shares of Express Scripts from a “buy” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 24th.

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In related news, VP Christine Houston sold 10,104 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.08, for a total transaction of $708,088.32. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 87,400 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,124,992. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Glen D. Stettin sold 3,448 shares of Express Scripts stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.00, for a total transaction of $262,048.00. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 17,001 shares of company stock worth $1,249,505 in the last three months. 0.68% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ESRX. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Express Scripts in the fourth quarter worth about $105,000. Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Co. purchased a new position in shares of Express Scripts during the third quarter valued at approximately $120,000. Aevitas Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Express Scripts during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $128,000. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Express Scripts during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $142,000. Finally, Monroe Bank & Trust MI raised its holdings in shares of Express Scripts by 74.8% during the third quarter. Monroe Bank & Trust MI now owns 2,266 shares of the company’s stock valued at $156,000 after purchasing an additional 970 shares during the last quarter. 86.45% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Express Scripts (ESRX) traded up $1.16 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $75.23. 3,136,100 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,332,997. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.73. The stock has a market cap of $42,610.00, a PE ratio of 12.50, a P/E/G ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 0.93. Express Scripts has a 12-month low of $55.80 and a 12-month high of $83.49.

Express Scripts announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase plan on Monday, December 18th that authorizes the company to buyback 45,000,000 outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are often a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

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Express Scripts Company Profile

Express Scripts, Inc is a pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company in North America, offering a range of services to its clients, which include health insurers, third-party administrators, employers, union-sponsored benefit plans, workers’ compensation plans and government health programs. It operates in two segments: PBM and Emerging Markets (EM).